Improved cab-coupling



@nimh gieten atznt @Hita JOHN T. Aeroi-inns, or PARISH `or New CHURCH;Interrante. Letters .Patent No. 72,933, dated December 31,1867. v

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:` i p Be it known that I, JOHN T. STOAKES, of parish of New Church, county of Kent, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Coupling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the'sarne, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part `of this specification, in which- Figure l illustrates the construction and operation of my improved car-coupling.

Figure 2 shows how my improved coupling may bevcoupled to an ordinary bumper-head.

Figure 3 is a' detail view* of the vertical shaft and hand-wheel by which the cars are uncoupled and the brakes applied. I v V Similar letters ot` reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its objectlto furnish an improved car-coupling, which shall begself-coupling, which cannot become accidentally uncoupled while the cars are upon the track, which will at once uncouple itself should the ear or cars be thrown from the track, and which can be easily and quickly 'uncoupled when' desired, even should the train-be in rapid motion; and it consists in the manner in which the bumperbar is attached to the truck, in the combination of the side spring and bar with the bumper-bar, for holding the said barin proper position whilerthe cars are coupled, in the form of the bumper-head, and in the construction of the vertical shaft andv collars by Which the cars are u'ncoupled and the brakes applied, the whole being constructed and arranged as hereinafter more fully described.

A represents the truck-frames, about the construction of which there'is nothing new. B are the bumpers, the rear ends ofthe bar 6 of which are slotted horizont-ally, for the reception of the elliptic springs C, and they are also slotted vertically, for thereception of the pivoted bar, D, to which the said springs are attached. vThe bar D is pivotcd to the frame of the truck, or to suitable supports attached to said truclcframes, according as their construction may render most convenient. The springs C are -passed through a horizontal slot in said bar, and through a horizontal slot in the rear end of the bumper-bar b1, and are securely attached at their middle parts to the 'ends of the bar D. Y A

By this construction thevstrain, both in drawing and pushing, comes uponpthe elasticity of the 4springs C, and 'the bumper-head or hook b is enabled to be drawn aside for *'uncoupling the' cars, or for any Vother desired purpose. l v

The forward end of the bumper B is held ina. horizontal position by a strap or keeper attached to the truck-frame, and passing througha keeper attached to the upper side of the bumper-bar, or passing beneath said bumper-bar, as may be convenient or desired.

C lhc forward end of the' bumper-head is made square, or nearly so, and has ahoolaformed upon its side, the face of which is made inclined, as shown in the drawings. At the base of the cavity* that` forms the hook is formed ashoulder, against which the end of thc hook or bumper-head of the adjacent car strikes. Each bumper-head has thus two points of concussion, the end of the hook 62 and the shoulder Z13. The shoulders b3 have cavities formed in them, for the reception of an ordinary coupling-link, which is secured in place by a pin in the ordinary manner. This enables an ordinary bumper-head to be conveniently coupled to my improved bumper-head, as shown in fig. 2.

When two cars, with my improved bumpers attached, come together, the inclined faces of the hooks b2 strike against each other, and force each other apart until the points of the hooks have slipped past each other; the springs E then force the'bumper-heads forward, interlocking the hooks and coupling the cars.v The 'rear ends of the springs E are attached to the sides of the bumper-bars bl, andtheir forward ends Irest against the ends of the supporting-bars F, the other ends of which are connected to some suitable support attached to the truck-frames A.

G is a vertical shaft, working in bearings formed in or attached to the truck-frame, and which is operated by anhand-wheel attached to its upper end. Upon the shaft G, below thc platform of the car, are placed two ratchet-collars H, having spirall threads or slots formedmin them, running in opposite directions, as shown'in fig. 3. In case a spiral thread is cut in the said collars, a similar thread should be cut upon that part of the shaft G upon which they work.

When the shaft Gr is revolved in one direction, it carries one-orf the said collars with it, by means of a stop or projection formed upon or attachedto the said shaft, and striking against a shoulder formed upon the lower edge of said collar, or against the .end of the spiral slot or groove, and raises the other collar in proportion to the number of revolutions of the shaft, so that, upon releasing or reversing the said shaft, the collars return to their proper positions, and are ready for action in either direction. i 1

One of the coilars, as H, is connected with the brake by a chain, J, and the other, I, is connected withl the bumper-head B, as shown in thedrawings, so that, by turning the shaft G in one direction, thebrake will be applied, and by turnirrgit in the other direction the cars will be uncoupled, which uncoupling can be done even .when the train is in rapid motion.

v L is a doublcmatchet-whcel, attached to the shaft Gjust above the platform of the car, the teeth of which point in opposite directions. M is a double pawl, each part of which is so formed as to take hold of one set of teeth o f the double ratchet-wheel L, so that the shaft nay be held from revolving in oith'er direction, when required. 4

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1, The construction and arrangement of the slotted pivoted bar D, elliptic springs C, and bumper-bar b, substantially'as described, for the purpose speciiecl.

2. The shoulderl b3 of the bumper-head, with a link-socket to receive the link of an ordinary car-coupling,

substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the two collars H and I with the vertical shaft G, the said collars and shaft being constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and described, so that the cars may .be uncoupled and i the brake applied by operating the same shaft. y Y The above specification of m'y invention signed by me, this 22d day of February, 1867.

' JOHN T. sroAKEs.

Witnesses:

G. E. DUNNING, W. S. DAGosr'r. 

